This vessel was created by artist Jesselyn Gordon. Credit: Courtesy Image / Jesselyn Gordon
“We have this crazy idea, and we would really love your help.”
That intriguing plea crossed the desk of Contemporary Art Month Executive Director Roberta “Nina” Hassele last spring in the form of an email exchange between San Antonio artists Michelle Hernandez, Hilary Rochow and Rikkianne Van Kirk.
“They’re all women that I really respect,” Hassele told the Current from her art-filled office at the Southtown art space Mercury Project. “I respect their creative work, and I respect them as women, individually and as a whole. So I was like, ‘Yeah, of course!’ So we scheduled a meeting.”
During that meeting, the “crazy idea” in question began to develop into ClaySA — a grassroots initiative to connect and uplift San Antonio’s growing ceramics community. Kicking off in November, the collaborative event combines “The Mark of the Hand,” a group exhibition uniting 23 local artists working in clay, and 12 studio tours spread across two weekends.
The new program represents the work of an all-volunteer committee which comprises Hassele, Hernandez, Rochow and Van Kirk along with artists Dani Becknell, Michael Foerster, Jesselyn Gordon, Linda Perez and Jackie Saha.
Curated by Rochow and opening Nov. 8, “The Mark of the Hand” in certain ways expands on “Clay Symphony,” a group show Hassele and Van Kirk presented at Mercury Project last year.
Allysha Farmer’s work will be included in the upcoming exhibition. Credit: Courtesy Image / Allysha Farmer
“We put ‘Clay Symphony’ together because we really wanted people to be exposed to this beauty that we have here,” Hassele explained. “So many people, to the best of our knowledge, just don’t realize that they’re [around so many San Antonio artists who make] this incredible ceramic work.”
Rochow, whom we also spoke to for this story, pointed out that ClaySA isn’t the first or only organized group of ceramic artists in San Antonio.
“We’re passionate about the idea of bringing clay artists together,” Rochow said. “And there is a San Antonio Potters Guild. But clay is such an interesting medium because it spans fine art and the craft world. And I personally like to break [those] barriers any chance I get. Curatorially speaking, I don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense that there are harsh lines between those worlds in a post-industrial society. So, we just wanted to celebrate clay as a medium — and the people working in it — whether they were doing more functional work or more sculptural work.”
As its title suggests, “The Mark of the Hand” also celebrates the inimitable nuances of handcrafted ceramics.
Andrew Leo is another artist whose work will be on display. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Andrew Leo
“Clay is such a fascinating medium,” Rochow said. “You can do anything with it, and it’s fun to see different people’s approaches to it. Clay people are great about sharing their technique — because there’s no way that you’re going to copy [them exactly]. It’s not possible. That’s why we named the exhibition ‘The Mark of the Hand.’ Especially with the advent of AI, I think there is a push towards handmade items. And one lovely thing about handmade ceramic items is that you can see the mark of the hand. You can see that it was made. It is clearly something special.”
Fittingly, ClaySA is taking shape at a time when San Antonians have more access than ever to ceramics classes and workshops at community-minded spaces such as Mud Studio, Oblate Clay, Breva Creative and Thrown Studio, the last of which was founded by ClaySA committee member Jesselyn Gordon.
When asked about any wow moments in “The Mark of the Hand,” Rochow said she’s excited about all of it.
“It’s a good mix of lots of different clay bodies and different glaze techniques,” Rochow explained. “Carolyn Adams has these really interesting sculptures, and it was really fun visiting her studio and learning about her practice. The way that she finishes the sculptures is really fascinating. She uses a lot of cold work like wax, so you end up with these fascinating lusters that you wouldn’t be able to achieve with the kiln alone. … Anita Becerra is [contributing] some lamps, and I’m excited to see her interpretation. … [And] Brooke Armstrong makes these huge sculptures out of tiny little spikes of clay … and then she hangs them in this beautiful way [that] feels like one piece — like it’s floating.”
Hassele, whom Rochow describes as ClaySA’s “North Star,” is also thrilled about seeing everything in one place.
“I’m excited about experiencing the whole month and just watching and observing people and having conversations about this artist and that artist and this piece of work and that piece of work in this open studio,” Hassele said.
Diana Kersey will display her ceramic works. Credit: Courtesy Image / Diana Kersey
“One of the studio visits that I’m really excited about is Linda Perez’s studio in Floresville. We’re going to caravan from Mercury Project. It’s 40 minutes out of town, but it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere. It’s beautiful. … I’m going to bring a cooler with snacks and beverages and we’re just gonna camp out for the day.”
As for the future of ClaySA, Hassele sees it as an annual event with potential to evolve.
“We do know that we want to continue it and let it grow organically. So we may continue with the same format into 2026 and then just see how it moves forward,” she said. “It’s a labor of love right now [but we may] look for some financial sponsors so we can pay the artists that are part of the exhibition or help contribute towards the open studios.”
Michelle Hernandez, committee member and one of the women on the original email thread that helped sparked ClaySA, says she wants the event to set an example for the San Antonio community at large.
“One of my favorite things about the clay community is that we are always so giving and ready to lend a hand to each other,” Hernandez said via email. “I want more people to know and feel that community support and maybe even allow it to be a model for more than just the clay community.”
Anita Becerra’s work is also on display.
Clay Persuasions
To get a glimpse into the work of the makers behind ClaySA, we asked committee members what they consider their specialty and what they’re most drawn to when appreciating ceramics.
“My specialty is exploring the seemingly infinite diversity of forms and shapes and textures both alone and in combination with one another. I usually like to start a work on the wheel and then remove and alter it and sometimes combine it with other pieces. Think of all the different feathers comprising the wings of a bird, as well as thousands of different birds, especially when in flight, and how unique each feather is both alone and when together as a wing. Clay is a material with many characteristics such as color, texture and pliancy, that allow it to be made into unlimited forms and shapes. Its texture is very adaptable to transformation as well, which can enhance the surfaces and influence the entire piece. If an idea doesn’t work you can start again — it’s clay and it lets you keep trying.” — Linda Perez
“Right now, I am really enjoying hand-building, versus throwing forms on the wheel. I like the freedom in forms it allows and the challenge of working against gravity. The hand-building process is also slower, which allows me more time to meditate on the meaning of the pieces and keeps me at a pace where I am able to explore and shift within the piece more.” — Michelle Hernandez
“I consider myself a sculptor who works predominantly in clay. Working with clay is a tactile connection to the earth. I find it to be very grounding. When collecting or merely appreciating ceramics, I tend to lean towards pieces that still have the mark of the maker. I find there is something soulful to that bridge between artist and other.” — Dani Becknell
“I primarily work on the wheel to make functional ware for restaurants. However, when time and money allows, I use the wheel and hand-building techniques to make much larger vessels. I tend to gravitate towards the wheel, but have been branching out more frequently into hand-built sculptures.” — Jesselyn Gordon
“I make sculptural work that typically incorporates interactive elements with the aim of playing with the audience, pushing them to respond in different ways while giving me the opportunity to observe, akin to a social experiment.” — Michael Foerster
‘The Mark of the Hand’
Free, opening reception 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, closing celebration and market noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, Mercury Project, 538 Roosevelt Ave., contemporaryartmonth.org/claysa.
ClaySA Studio Tour
Free, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, caravan to Linda Perez’s studio in Floresville leaves Mercury Project at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, visit contemporaryartmonth.org/claysa for a list of participating studios.
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
San Antonio’s fall arts calendar is as diverse and fascinating as the scene that makes it tick.
The San Antonio art museum’s new exhibition shows the creativity that thrived in 19th-century France despite government attempts to ban politically charged images.
San Antonio artist Phil Ross has been building his tower of junk for decades. Now he’s fighting the city to keep it.